This is for all the people who cannot view their website for multiple reasons.
1) You enter your IP address and you cannot see your website.
2) You can only see your website from "localhost."
3) Others cannot see your website, but you can.

To date, I estimate over 50 topics have been started with the same problem. I hope to solve your problems right here, so you do not have to start a new thread.

Problem: You/Others cannot view your website.
This applies to: All people who have a hardware router.
Solution: Port forwarding.
When someone enters your IP, the request gets sent to your router. Normally, your router would just ignore/block the request, because it cannot do anything with it. We are going to take all requests to your IP address, and forward them specifically to the computer with your website.
What to do:

1) Get the Internal IP address of the computer running Abyss Web Server.
If you run Windows 95, 98, ME: Start>Run>Type "winipcfg" and select your network adapter from the dropdown list. Your IP address either looks like "192.168.x.x" or "10.0.x.x"
If you run Windows 2000, XP, Server 2000, or Server 2003: Go to the command prompt and type "ipconfig" (which will display your Internal IP under the IP Address category).

2) Go to your router configuration. Usually, you can type "192.168.1.1" or "192.168.0.1" in your browser to bring it up.
Helpful tip: After completing step 1, use the same digit(s) in the third block of your IP in step 2. Example: If your IP address from step 1 was "192.168.254.10," then use 254 to find your router (192.168.254.254). If your IP address was "192.168.1.10," then use "192.168.1.1" (taking the third block of numbers in your IP address, and putting them in the third and fourth place in step 2).

3) If a password prompt comes up, try different combinations of the words "admin" and "administrator." Most linksys routers use "admin" for the password and no username.

4) Once in the configuration, look for an option that says "forwarding." Once you have found it, under port number, type "80." Under IP address, type the IP address you found in step 1 (192.168.x.x). For TCP/UDP, make sure at least TCP is selected.

5) Go to www.whatismyip.com or www.aprelium.com/ip/ to find your External IP address. After configuring port forwarding, type that IP address into your browser. Your website should show up!
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This is for all the people who want to have a domain name (www.myname.com) instead of a numerical IP address (66.212.51.99) for your website.

Your options:

"Dot TK" - This can give you a www.yourname.tk for your website. All you do is signup, and forward your domain name to your IP address.
Note: The majority of users have a "Dynamic IP." This means, periodically, your IP address changes. You will have to go in manually and change your IP when this happens.

"No-IP" - This popular service lets you have yourname.no-ip.com for free; along with some other choices (such as yorname.mybiz.com, etc.). For those of you with a Dynamic IP (which is mostly everyone), No-IP provides a client you can download that automatically updates your URL whenever your IP changes.

A Real TLD (Top Level Domain, such as .com, .net, and .org) - Let me first say, there is absolutely NO WAY to get a free TLD. Whatever the deal, you will eventually have to open your wallet.
There are many providers to choose from. I like to use 000domains.com. For $13.50 per year, they offer every service you will ever need. I know people have found cheaper ones, but this is just my preference.
How to associate your TLD with your IP Address: The majority of companies whom sell TLDs do not offer DNS services (ways to associate your domain with your IP address). For this, I reccomend a free service called "ZoneEdit." To use this, you must associate your domain with ZoneEdit's namesevers. They show you how to do that on their website, www.zoneedit.com. For those of you who have dynamic IPs, there is a list of 3rd-party applications in their FAQ.

Everyone has their own preferences.

Hope that helped. Post with any further qurstions you may have._________________Bienvenidos!

Last edited by iNaNimAtE on Thu Jun 17, 2004 7:29 pm; edited 3 times in total

OK - Now this is weird. Last night, I had ZoneAlarm Plus running = could access my site. Tonight (as seen above) = problems all night. On a lark, I turned off ZoneAlarm Plus = can access my site again.

I also turned the DUC v2.1.4 Connection update down to 5; 30 seemed to be missing the IP switch: whatismyip = X; DUC = Y. Changed to 5, both = X.

With the router, should be pretty "safe". Have AV running as well, but seems odd (at least to me) that ZoneAlarm Plus would allow it last night but not tonight. *scratches head*.

i did all of the above but i couldn't log into my router because when i type my default gateway 192.168.0.1..it won't let me in it just goes to page not found same as when i type my true ip etc....
do we have to use the main internet computer or any computer on the network?

The IP 66.224.62.202 is set to forward to Abyss at 192.168.0.11. When computer 192.168.0.10 types in 66.224.62.202, it will not work. It will only work if someone who isn't on your network tries to access your IP (66.224.62.202).
Why doesn't it work? The computer is essentially making a loop. It is virtually going out on the internet, only to find that it needs to go back in to the network.

If you don't understand, I'll make a diagram for you._________________Bienvenidos!

hey when I give my ip to a friend to check out my site, he says it does not work and it is just a blank page.
I don't know how it is like that because all firewalls are off and I cofigured zonealarm to let abyss enter the internet....can you help me figure out what's wrong?

Make sure to turning off or uninstall [if necessary] ZA and see if everything goes. If it work without ZA, you will need check the ZA setting for in/outbound port is set correctly. Sometime ZA is a bit stubborn._________________CapFusion,...

Question one and two have the same sort of answer. #1: Yes, that does block the server. #2: The modem + router you mentioned in #1 is in fact your router. The guide I wrote is intended to help you bypass your router so people can view your website._________________Bienvenidos!

A totally blank page doesn't mean there is no index file. If your browser has not timed out in connecting and you are given a totally blank page (no text whatsoever) then there is an empty index.html file, which is either deliberate or accidental.

If there was no index file and directory indexing was turned on, you would get an empty directory listing from Abyss, but there would be text there and you would be able to see the Abyss banner at the bottom. If directory indexing is turned off and there is no index file in the directory, you would receive a Forbidden error from Abyss and still get a banner.

If you're running an ad blocker that acts as a local server on port 80 it may be serving up blank pages/images, but if you were using the same port for Abyss you would get an error when you tried to run Abyss stating that the port is in use...

To Anonymoose: Let me clarify: When I said "no index.html page," I meant there was a file named "index.html," however there was nothing in it; which would give you a blank page.

To Turma: "http://192.168.0.101:829" is your internal IP address, which is only viewable by you. You need to get your external IP at www.whatismyip.com and then give that to us._________________Bienvenidos!

How are your other PC's connected to the server PC ? (Not the Abyss PC) I'm assuming you have a hub or a switch in there somewhere too rather than 3 additional NIC's in the server PC just to link up the PCs. Similarly, how is the modem connected to the server PC ?

If your connection goes Modem -> Server PC -> Hub -> Other PCs, you will need to get an additional port forwarder for the server PC to forward traffic from that to the Abyss PC - this will be easier than enabling routing on the server PC.

I have the same question as Anonymoose. How do you hook all your LAN PC to your server PC? Does this server pc a proxy server with multiple NIC?

Your approach or setup is kind of complicated. I am not sure why how to start. My suggestion is to have a gateway or a router with switch built-in. This router / gateway will be in between your "Telemodem" and your LAN. This router will act as a traffic cop and forward any port to the predefine LAN for that port you set in the router and other port you did not define will be dump or ignore request to the router.

Your server PC can host Abyss instead or setup as a proxy or firewall._________________CapFusion,...

Okay, I've read all of the posts in this subject, and I still can't get this to work.

The web files are in the correct folder and the router seems to be working correctly (I can access the index page through localhost as well as the 127.0.0.1 bit), but I can't access it when I type in the IP address.

Moxxnixx, Linksys routers have a built-in firewall. However, if you were referring to a software firewall, then yes, aej2000, do you use one?

There are a couple possible solutions:
1. Use the Linksys guide in the previous post.
2. Try DMZ and see if that works. (DMZ is potentially dangerous, but we at least need to figure out what the problem is).
3. Your ISP may block port 80. Try running Abyss on another port (and make sure to configure port forwarding for it). What ISP do you use?_________________Bienvenidos!

Just to add to the DMZ comment, if you know you're not up to date on Windows Update patches don't put your PC into the DMZ. It's not just dangerous, it's suicidal. Get patched up first, then move into the DMZ if you're going to use it.

The idea of the DMZ is to see what exactly went wrong; not to keep it in there permanently. If it works, then the problem was the router. If it doesn't work, then the problem is probably the computer configuration. The good thing about DMZ is that you can't mess up the configuration of it; there is only one text box. That's what makes it good for troubleshooting._________________Bienvenidos!

I know it's for troubleshooting and how useful it is, but consider the average user. If you've done a basic install of Windows XP, maybe added SP1, but then not touched Windows Update, even if you only move your PC into the DMZ for 5 minutes, I guarantee if you're on a popular cable/DSL ISP you *will* have been scanned and infected by one of the Blaster variants or other post SP1 nasties before you finish. Same goes for Windows 2K SP4 etc.

You should always recommend people check they're up to date on at a minimum Windows Critical Fixes before recommending they move a PC into the DMZ, even for a short time.

Very true. The internet is just one big script kiddie playground. I guess from now on, whenever I recommend to put a computer into DMZ, I will append a large, bolded red link at the top, like this one:

I understand you're new here. Please note that because this forum has existed since 2001, almost all of the issues here have been covered. Please use the "Search" function at the top of the page to find answers to your question before posting a new thread. That will keep this Forum nice and clean.

Also, as you have seen, cross posting is not exactly a "condoned" practice here.

I am explaining to you why, because I felt useless flaming would get everyone nowhere._________________Bienvenidos!

I want to make it that the dot.tk will make it do on my http:///web25.hopto.org cuz it won't work because its already redirected or im not sure how to do on other ports like port 8080 or anything. i want free dot.tk for it or i want paid but i dont want my parents to know i have paid for a domain. i know mith-host and its quite good that they accepts runescape items but its too much for me that 500,000gp and if anyone plays it or not. if you can lend me a domain name that would be thankful so please do something about my website please do so :)_________________Visit http://web26.hopto.org:443/ please help me make my site better http://web26.hopto.org:443/